Colorado Notary Public
Training 2026 – RULONA
Compliance Guide
The notary - ANSWER ✨✔---is responsible for performing all notarial acts in accordance with the
law as the notary may be solely liable for misconduct
2013 Washington Case *Klem v. Washington Mutual Bank - ANSWER ✨✔---The signer must be
present at the time of the notarial act
A notarization must never be predated or postdated
A notarial certificate should never be prefilled
Society relies on notaries to keep an accurate record of the day and place in which a document is signed
"The proper functioning of the legal system depends on the honesty of notaries who are entrusted to
verify the signing of legally significant documents."
Liability, Liability, Liability!
.
What is a notary public? - ANSWER ✨✔---Public officer constituted by law to witness the
execution of certain classes of non contentious documents.
When notarizing, notaries are responsible to the people of the State of Colorado, and not a customer or
employer. Notaries' acts are separate and apart from the duties that they perform on behalf of their
employer.
,What is an unbiased witness? - ANSWER ✨✔---Notaries are intended to act as third party,
disinterested witnesses in every transweraction that they perform.
A notary is appointed by - ANSWER ✨✔---the Secretary of State
The notary is responsible to - ANSWER ✨✔---the people of the State of Colorado
The notary has the power to - ANSWER ✨✔---administer oaths and affirmation, take
acknowledgements, and make copy certifications
A notary may only perform notarizations in - ANSWER ✨✔---Colorado
The notary above all should be - ANSWER ✨✔---a disinterested, unbiased, third-party witness in all
transweractions
Notaries are the first line of defense against - ANSWER ✨✔---identity theft/fraud
Notaries are bound to perform their duties in accordance with - ANSWER ✨✔---RULONA
Notaries are responsible for verifying: - ANSWER ✨✔---The signer's identity using satisfactory
evidence or personal knowledge. Both will be covered in later modules.
That the signer is a willing participant in the transweraction. No one is under duress. All parties are in
agreement at the time the document is presented.
That the signer has basic awareness of what he/she is signing or transweracting.
Notaries are not responsible for: - ANSWER ✨✔---Determining if the document is legal or
accurate.
, How can a client be identifed? - ANSWER ✨✔---Personal knowledge if the notary knows the client
directly (first and last names) or if the notary has seen sufficient identification previously.
Credible witness must personally know the signer who lacks sufficient identification. The credible
witness must also either (1) personally know the notary or (2) be identified by the notary using sufficient
identification
Physical identification is the preferred method of satisfactory evidence. It is defined in Colorado statute
as a passport, driver's license, or another form of government issued ID that is expired not more than
one year. Acceptable ID should have: a photo or the signature of the person who is so named
Journal entries - ANSWER ✨✔---must be recorded for all notarial acts
What is acceptable ID? - ANSWER ✨✔---Current or expired not more than one year Colorado
driver's license or Colorado ID
Current or expired not more than one year U.S. passport
Valid U.S. military ID
Driver's license from another state
*Must be a secured and verifiable ID (SVID)
What is an unacceptable form of ID? - ANSWER ✨✔---Birth certificate
Rent or utility receipts
Identification best practices: - ANSWER ✨✔---Turn it over and check the back for authenticity
Compare the physical description on the ID to the person appearing in front of you
Training 2026 – RULONA
Compliance Guide
The notary - ANSWER ✨✔---is responsible for performing all notarial acts in accordance with the
law as the notary may be solely liable for misconduct
2013 Washington Case *Klem v. Washington Mutual Bank - ANSWER ✨✔---The signer must be
present at the time of the notarial act
A notarization must never be predated or postdated
A notarial certificate should never be prefilled
Society relies on notaries to keep an accurate record of the day and place in which a document is signed
"The proper functioning of the legal system depends on the honesty of notaries who are entrusted to
verify the signing of legally significant documents."
Liability, Liability, Liability!
.
What is a notary public? - ANSWER ✨✔---Public officer constituted by law to witness the
execution of certain classes of non contentious documents.
When notarizing, notaries are responsible to the people of the State of Colorado, and not a customer or
employer. Notaries' acts are separate and apart from the duties that they perform on behalf of their
employer.
,What is an unbiased witness? - ANSWER ✨✔---Notaries are intended to act as third party,
disinterested witnesses in every transweraction that they perform.
A notary is appointed by - ANSWER ✨✔---the Secretary of State
The notary is responsible to - ANSWER ✨✔---the people of the State of Colorado
The notary has the power to - ANSWER ✨✔---administer oaths and affirmation, take
acknowledgements, and make copy certifications
A notary may only perform notarizations in - ANSWER ✨✔---Colorado
The notary above all should be - ANSWER ✨✔---a disinterested, unbiased, third-party witness in all
transweractions
Notaries are the first line of defense against - ANSWER ✨✔---identity theft/fraud
Notaries are bound to perform their duties in accordance with - ANSWER ✨✔---RULONA
Notaries are responsible for verifying: - ANSWER ✨✔---The signer's identity using satisfactory
evidence or personal knowledge. Both will be covered in later modules.
That the signer is a willing participant in the transweraction. No one is under duress. All parties are in
agreement at the time the document is presented.
That the signer has basic awareness of what he/she is signing or transweracting.
Notaries are not responsible for: - ANSWER ✨✔---Determining if the document is legal or
accurate.
, How can a client be identifed? - ANSWER ✨✔---Personal knowledge if the notary knows the client
directly (first and last names) or if the notary has seen sufficient identification previously.
Credible witness must personally know the signer who lacks sufficient identification. The credible
witness must also either (1) personally know the notary or (2) be identified by the notary using sufficient
identification
Physical identification is the preferred method of satisfactory evidence. It is defined in Colorado statute
as a passport, driver's license, or another form of government issued ID that is expired not more than
one year. Acceptable ID should have: a photo or the signature of the person who is so named
Journal entries - ANSWER ✨✔---must be recorded for all notarial acts
What is acceptable ID? - ANSWER ✨✔---Current or expired not more than one year Colorado
driver's license or Colorado ID
Current or expired not more than one year U.S. passport
Valid U.S. military ID
Driver's license from another state
*Must be a secured and verifiable ID (SVID)
What is an unacceptable form of ID? - ANSWER ✨✔---Birth certificate
Rent or utility receipts
Identification best practices: - ANSWER ✨✔---Turn it over and check the back for authenticity
Compare the physical description on the ID to the person appearing in front of you
